Sydney, Jan. 4 -- Australia have pulled an unprecedented selection move for the final Ashes Test, leaving out their frontline spinner Todd Murphy and instead picking Beau Webster for his first match of the summer here.
Not since 1888, when cricket was completely unrecognisable to the professional game it is today, have the Aussies neglected to play a frontline slow bowler for a Test at the SCG, once considered this country's spin haven.
But, with England winning the toss and electing to bat first on a green-tinged pitch on Sunday morning, Steve Smith confirmed they had defied almost 140 years of standard practice and leftout Murphy for the NRMA Insurance series finale.
Allrounder Webster instead won the final spot in the XI, replacing Jh...